Charity worker, Sara Saxon, who came to Sheffield from Palestine over 30 years ago is retiring after seventeen years of service at SAVTE, which teaches English as a second language. Sara came to England as a refugee with no understanding of English and through her charity work has helped thousands of others in Sheffield to learn English and to become less isolated. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Bomb disposal squads were called to properties in Sheffield and Chesterfield early Tuesday morning with four arrests made as police acted to foil an alleged terror plot. The raids took place in Burngreave, Meersbrook, Stocksbridge and on Sheffield Road in Chesterfield. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield’s first Talking Bench, located in the Winter Gardens, has proved a conversation starter and the concept could be rolled out across the city. Talking Benches was one of the winning ideas submitted to mental health charity Sheffield Flourish, and is a project to reduce loneliness and to improve social connections and wellbeing. The originator, Sheffield resident Sharon Tabberer, said the idea came from her father’s struggle to strike up conversation as he has grown older. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
A 15 year old boy has been arrested by South Yorkshire Police after Sheffield’s Birley Academy was evacuated in response to a bomb threat that proved to be a hoax call. Police were called to the school on Monday morning following reports that the school had received a bomb threat. As a precautionary measure, the college chose to evacuate students and worked with police while the area was searched. Chief Superintendent Natalie Shaw said: “After a prolonged search of Birley Academy, a device has not been found. Hoax calls are malicious and irresponsible, they can cause a considerable deal of distress. Anyone found to have committed this offence could face a prison sentence.” Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The pioneering Google Garage training centre in Sheffield is to be extended for a further six months before moving on to other parts of the UK. The pop-up internet shop has being offering a programme of events together with advice and support for internet users. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to trainer May King and music artist Javan Wright.
The Liberal Democrats prospective parliamentary candidate for Sheffield Hallam, Laura Gordon, has begun holding surgeries in the constituency of suspended local MP Jared O’Mara. O’Mara has not been seen publicly since issuing an apology for a series of offensive online comments dating back to 2004 and has been reported to be limiting his parliamentary activities on the advice of his doctor. The MP has been suspended by the Labour Party pending an investigation into allegations of abusive remarks towards a woman at a Sheffield nightclub earlier this year. His team have said advice surgeries are still being held with his staff and people who have a problem can contact his office. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Residents living in the Hanover Tower block in Broomhall remain concerned at the slow pace of progress on health and safety measures, six months after the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in which 71 people died. Following the Grenfell fire, high rise buildings across the country were tested for fire safety. In Sheffield, out of 24 Council-owned tower blocks, the Hanover Tower was the only high rise to fail fire safety tests due to it’s cladding. Residents have been informed that it will take up to two years to fit new cladding to the building and to install the sprinkler systems which have been promised for all Council owned tower blocks in the city. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Carlisle Street, one of the quieter routes into Sheffield, is gaining such a reputation for dirt and dangerous conditions that some cyclists are now avoiding it altogether. The mile long road is frequently covered in mud and dirt from nearby commercial premises and Sheffield cyclists are calling on business to clean up their act. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to cyclist Phil Harrison.
Yorkshire and UK mermaid of the year, Laura Siddall, has won the Miss Mermaid International 2017 competition, beating a pool of competitors in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
In partnership with Sheffield Antiques Quarter, the Abbeydale Picture House is hosting the first of a series of monthly charity valuation days, hosted by celebrity auctioneer Charles Hanson. Members of the public are encouraged to bring their hidden treasures for a free valuation with all proceedings going to St Lukes Hospice. Nick Coleman reports for Sheffield Live!